Sign-stretcher



(No Model.) 2 snees-sneet, ,'1.

E. H. HOFFMANN.

sIGN STRETCHBR.

No. 435,696. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

; NEwAF-IK zj. V5

PA'rEnsuN l I I fi fl 7/3; w m m I lT'z'yf (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. H. HOPPMANN. SIGN STRETCHER.

No. 435,696. Patented Sept.2, 1890.

Ffk' VL /;fl

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMOND H. IIOFFMANN, OF NEVARK, NEXV JERSEY.

SIGN-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,696, dated September 2, 1890.

Application filed April 15, 1890.

To coli whom it may concrn:

Be it known that I, EDMOND H. IIOFFMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sign- Stretchers, fully deseribed and represented in the following specification and the accompanying` drawings, forming a part of the same.

The object of this invention is to provide a convenient and efficient means of fastening the covering detachably upon the frame of an advertising-frame; and it consists, essentially, in the combination, with the ends of the frame, 4 a series of toggles connecting the same, and means for Operating the toggles, of a flexible covering for the frame adapted to 'receive suitable advertising-matter.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the sign and supporting-bracket. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a view of the bottom of the supporting-arm. Fig. 4 is a side view of the frame with the covering removed. Fig. 5 is a Vertical transverse section of the same, and Fig. G a top view of the same. Figs. and G show also the covering applied to the frame.

The ends a are shown herein consisting of two parallel bars joined together by links Z, pivoted upon nuts w. at points midway betwcen such end pieees. The end pieces are provided each with slots e, beveled at their adjaeent ends and having their opposite ends at right angles to the inner edges of the ends to form shoulders e'. The links l are each pivoted at one end within a slot e in the bar a, and at its opposite end upon the nut 'n by means of a stud n', projecting therefrom. A screws is swiveled in one of the nuts a and passed through a threaded hole in the other to move such nuts in relation to each other and thus operate the toggles.

The covering of the frame consists in an envelope o, preferably open at both top and bottom and provided upon each of its fiat faces with suitable advertising-matter. Such envelope consists in ,a strip of suitable material folded over and having its ends fastened together to form a wide band, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and G.

The supporting device consists in a horizontal arm (Z, having at one end a stud cZ', projecting vertically from its lower edge and Serial No. 347,938. (No model.)

fitted to the aperture of a perforated lug f, projecting from the plate 1), which plate is adapted to be fastened to the abutment from which itis desired to hang the sign. The lug f is provided on its upper side with notches and the lower edge of the arm (Z is fitted at C12 adjacent thereto to s'uch notches to hold the arm in the desired relation to the plate p. The sign is preferably hung from the supporting-arm by means of hooks h and staples i applied to such members, as shown in Fig. 1.

To operate the device, the screw 8 is turned by means of a crank 'm or a suitable wrench to bend the toggles in order to draw the end pieces together. The envelopec is then slipped Over the ends and the toggles straightened by turning the screw in the opposite direction, thereby tightening the frame within the envelope and securing Ithe latter in place.

lt is obvious that a transparency-frame may be readily formed by increasing the depth of the bars a the required amount 01' of forming the ends of transverse frames, and that a set of toggles could be used for each side of the transparency-frame, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the bars a as constituting the ends of the frame. It is also evident that the number of toggles required in any series would depend'upon the size of the frame; but it is preferable thatrone-half the number be adapted to bend in the opposite direction from the others, and that the alternate ones operate in the same direction.

The shoulder e' is provided to check the movement of the links Zafter the toggles have been straightened, and prevents the further bending of the toggles after the frame has been expanded to its fullest capacity, and thereby avoids the loosening of the envelope c and the liability of the latter to slip off the frame after its application to the frame.

By pivoting the supporting-arm to the perforated lug f and forming the latter with the notches f' the sign may be set perpendicular to the building or other abutment to which it is applied, or may, when desired, be set parallel with the same in case of a storm or for any other reason.

By the use of my invention the advertising or other matter upon the sign may be readily changed by merely renewing the covering of IOC Having thus set forth my invention, what7 I olaim herein 1's 1. In a sign-st1'etche1',t11e combination, With the ends of the frame, a series of toggles conneeting the same, and means for Operating the toggles simultaneously, of a fiexible covering for the frame adapted to receive suitable advertising-matter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

` 2. Inasig11-stretcher,the combination, with the ends of the frame, a series of tog'gles conneoting the same, and means for Operating the toggles simultaneously, of an envelope applied to the frame and consisting in a band of suitable fabrie with its ends joined together and adapted to receive suitable advertising-matter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a sign-st1'etcher,tl1e combination, with the bars a, having slots e with Shoulders e', as described, the links Z, the nuts fn, and the sorew 8, of the envelope c, the whole arranged and operated substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony Whereof I have herennto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDMOND H. HOFFMANN. Witnesses:

H. J. MILLER, J. VAN NEsT, J r. 

